The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-23
LYNCHING OF AMER GREEN
Concluding Chapter of the Tragic Story
Told in Yesterdays Journal.
Hanged-He Declares that Luella Mabbitt
Is Alive and Residing in Fort Worth.

DELPHI Ind, Oct 22-This morning Amer
Ereens body was hanging in a small grove nine
miles southeast of this city. The abductor and
murderer of Luella Mabbtt was lynched last
sight by band of $50 determined men.
Yesterday morning number of men from the
EASTERN part of Carroll and Cass counties, in the
vicinity Of Young America, came to Delphi, and
NIL dcy they were the streets, but sus-
pested the motive of their visit About 10
o'clock last night, however, they were joined by
about one hundred and seventy five others from
the same locality, and then their business bo-
came known. They had come for Amer
Green. and they got him. They
quietly surrounded the Jail and after placing
line in the middle Of the street about twenty of
the bravest and NEST determined started for the
Jail. They made demand on the sheriff be-
fore beginning operations, but sent a sledge-
hammer crashing through the wooden door
leading into the residence part of the building
On the east side. Rushing in with revolvers in
their hands and hsndkerchiefs over their faces,
they demanded the keys to the doors leading to
Amer Green's cell This was refused by the
sheriff, and Mrs. Van Gundv, who was
next approached. was unable to COM
ply with the demand, even if she had
been inclined. But the mob did not stand on
ceremony. man with sedge hammer began
his work, and one lock after another succumbed
20 bis powerful blows. When the sledge was
cot sufficient he aided it with cold-chisel The
last lock, opened by automatic arrangement.
Also unlocked the door of Amer's cell, so that
when the mob reached the cell they had only to
swing open the door and take their man Green
who has always, ever since his capture. showed
the most defiant and nonchalant mien, had
begun to weep and cry as he found the
mob was coming When they reached his cell
they found him in tears In his desperation
ne had wrenched loose a section of
the waterpipe in his cell with
which to defend himself. But four men made a
simultaneous rush for him, graphing his hands
and throat ar the same time. He was bound and
hurried out into double seated covered car
raRe, held in waiting and the whip was then
applied to the horses. The carriage containing
the prisoner went q break. neck speed until it
crossed the Deer creek bridge and reached the
top of the hill when it was joined by about sixty
other carriages, buggies. wagons aud horse
back riders. and the procession moved toward
Walnut Grove. eight miles and half southeast.
A halt was called at Walnut Grove. where two
large fires had been built. and which illumined
the woods
Those who gathered around the blazing fires
IN Walnut Grove will never forget the hasty
examination of the doomed man, his words, his
actions, his cool and calm demeanor He tow
cred above his captors, helpless victim. In
Few minutes after the spot was reached. after he
had been placed the fire. and those in
aharee had warmed their benumbed hands,
Green lifted his head and calmly said:
II hope you not going to burn me. You
have come out here to murder me, and are going
do it, but do it like civilized men,"
"Give him the stake" Burn him." Torture
a confession out of him" MAKE him talk, /" and
score of other suggestions came from the crowd.
In response to all thsse threatening exclama-
looked over the crowd. In few minutes the
leader of the crowd called for silence, and, step
ping forward facing Green, said:
Amer you have not long to live. You are
now in the hands OF men who are determined.
III you have anything to say. nows the time to
say it You are charged with numbering Luela
Nabbtt. IL you can produce her you can live; il
not, you must die. Have you any explanation
..Is Mr. Mabbitt here7r asked Green
yes" came from n score of throats
Let him step forward" said the leader Of the
The old. gray haired father of the missing
girl moved TO the front and in the glare of the
Pickering light stood face to face with Amer |
Green
''welI, Amer, you must tell the truth;
you must tell me what you did with my dear
girl You took her away from home and have |
kept her away. When saw you in the Logans- |
port Jail and asked you where Luella was, you |
put me off and said you would tell me when the |
proper time came-that you would then explain |
ali. / have waited a long time The proper |
time has come. Is Luella alive!'' eoa
Eyes, she IS alive
''Where Is she?' .,4l
'.She is in Fort Worth, Texas
''Who is she withp
she is with Samuel Pane, an old friend of
mine, and has been there ever since she left
home"
"Why have you lot had her brought here be-
fore thisl"
IF Ihad consulted my head instead of
my attorneys this would all have been settled
long ago. Il would have been a free man."
you have known that your life was in
danger. You have known that a mob was likely
to take you at any time. Why did you let your
attorneys influence youf Why did you not pro-
duce the grll'
Probably was stubborn. held out be-
cause of the way you and your friends treated
my mother This made me mad, and then my
attorneys told me that you charged me with
numbering the girl and advised to let you
prove II. If had consulted my own head in
stead of my attorneys i would not be here"
les q lie" "Choke the truth out of him."
came from the crowd.
''Td have explained this all at Forth Worth
if Buck STANLEY would have permitted /
sent for my attorney then, but Stanley hustled
me away before he came to see me. had no
chance, or I'd have produced her there. Buck
Stanley will tell you that. l sent for attor-
ney. The way / was treated made me mad, and
this. with the advice OF my attorneys, made me
hold out. ] would have produced Luelia Nab
bitt the day of my trial"
"You have nut it off too long" 'Hang him."
"Put him to the stake" ''Make him tell the
truth" came from the crowd.
There short consultation among the
leaders, when one of them said
.'Shall we hang him or burn him2r
Hang him Burn hm" the response
but the sentiment appeared in favor of the rope
.'All who are in favor of the rope say, aye"
There WAS a loud chorus of ayes, and quicker
than il takes to tell it hemp rope was pro-
duced and a hangman's moose made and placed
a bout the doomed mans neck. His arms were
pnioned to his body. AS this COM
the victim said:
after this is all over, Mr.. Mabbitt: after
am Aone do not forget me, do not
do not worry-he will not forget you."
some one in the crowd and Green said
no more.
The order was then given to move to a small
butternutt tree "A few feet away. A limb
tended out and afforded a natural scafold.
who will climb the tree!' was asked by q